Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-19
SERMONS FUR YOUTH.
Two Excellent Disc0urses Last
Evening.
Rev. 6. w. Cue and Rev. A. b. Mel.
Their Respective Puipits.
UNREcoRDED BATTLES.

Rev. g. W. Cue preached upon the SUBJ
ject of "Unrecorded, Unheard and Uns
seen Battles" a sermon to young men.
The text was First John, 2:l3:
write unto you young men, because ye have |
overcome the wicked one. /
Mr.. Cue said IN the text the apostle |
divided the members Of the church into
three classes-children. young men and
fathers. The dividing line cannot ais
ways be distinctly drawn, yet it must be
obvious to every one that it actually ex>
lists. and its general features are distinct
ly marked.
BY young men. we mean those who are
in the prime of life. in age and expert
ence. They occupy position between
the little children and the fathers. The
text teaches that those who are described
as young men have fought with satan and
gained the victory. History is filled with
the accounts OF battles. As we read. it
seems as though every great question had
been decided upon the battle field. Who
does not call to mind the battles of the
revolution. or those OF the great rebel
lion, the bold attack, the uncertain issue,
and finally the shout of Triumph But
these are not the great battles of life.
There are others which have a greater
bearing on human happiness and the
| worlds history They are battles that
have not been recorded-silent and IN
seen. They are the battles between the
soul and the adversary. These battles
that decide the destiny of the soul for.
ever are generally fought in youth. Satan
takes the advantage of inexperienced
| youth When Hercules started out into
the world young man, he came tc
where three ways met. At the entrance
of each way stood beautiful maiden
each inviting him to go her way. Ont
represented wealth, another pleasure ant
|
became happy. wealthy and great. Blu
why go to fables for illustrations whel
We have them in the inspired word
Abraham fought his great battle when
young man in Ur of Chaldea. Moses
when young man, fought his great bat
tie in Egypt, and Paul fought his in Da
mascus
Similar battles are going on all aroun
US. Everyone has decisive battle t
fight. Young men and young womer
too, are daily passing through the gre'
crisis of their lives and deciding the
destiny. No one sees these battles: the
/, are being fought in our streets, in ol
schools, in places of business. in OIL
. churches, but generally in ones ON
chambers. and perhaps on bended knee
1t becomes those who have overcome Il
wicked one" to speak with caution
their fellows. Perhaps they arc passi
through the crisis of their lives. Pe
haps the great battle of youth
just on the turning point.
encouraging word may win
soul to Christ, a careless word may q
the advantage to the adversary and II
f. soul forever. You step into the 81
chamber; one of earth's loved ones
q lingering at the gates of death. The q
ease has reached it's climax. A few no
and the question of life or death will
'' settled All depends upon quietne
watchfulness and care. How noiseles
1e the friends move about. they speak
lowest whispers. Will We manifest
caution when immortal souls are pass
through the great crisis on which depe
eternal life or eternal deaths Throl
these secret battles We have all passe
we have overcome the wicked one.
you not remember the time when the
important question was settleds WI
3S, you determined to serve the Lord
when you came SO near making shipwl
3s of faithf Among the unseen battles
youth is one with skepticis m Thro
this conflict almost every young man
Is. called to pass. In some cases the fgt
DC. more severe than others. There are
few who will not carry to their grl
scars received In this conflict. The c
brought up In the christian fal
taught to believe In God, the holy W
l.. the gospel plan of salvation. HI
is taught to believe what bis parents
lieve. When he goes out into the "
up he is astonished that the faith of his cl
hood is questioned by some and lauf
40 at by others. He begins to examine
grounds of his faith, infidel compar
help him. infidel books are given
Ere he is aware. he begins to doubt
existence of God. the inspiration Of
scriptures, and for time be walks Of
dark border land Of blank infde
Again, among the unseen battles OF J
is one with licentiousness. or this
nol tie l will not freely speak. PEI
8 the blood of souls will be required Of
listers of the gospel, because they
ignored this "social evil" 1t is . su
on which the word of God Ia not q
/ would just say there are those in
city whose steps take hold on destru'
whose house is the way to hell; ,
. habitation 10 filled with disease, co
his, tion and death, till the whited sepul
filled with dead mems bones and a
eleanness are sweeter than the su
rose in comparison Herewith. Th
q sin with which above all others it
safe to trife. 1t petrifes the fe
sears the conscience, destroys ver
robs the body of its strength and b
:. and the soul of its nobility and +
Etc. 1t undermines society and the famil
inpiously strikes at the glory of
Those who listen to the song Of the
at and trifle with this sin are led capt
satan at his will.
Again, among the unseen bait
IL youth is one with intemperance.
JOe this is o mighty enemy who can